[Illustration: FIG. 694.--Deer Church. Plan.]
This church is situated in a beautiful bend of the river Ugie, in the
churchyard of the village of Deer, and is rather more than a mile
distant from the abbey. It is roofless, but the walls stand at about
their original height, and consist of a nave and chancel (Fig. 694).
The nave is of an unusual form, being wider than it is long; but it is
probable that it was originally longer than it now is. The exterior
width is 26 feet 10 inches, and the length 24 feet 3 inches. The chancel
is 37 feet 7 inches long by 16 feet 9 inches wide externally. It is
separated from the nave by a wall containing a round splayed arch, 7
feet 6 inches wide, and (owing to the present level of the ground) only
6 feet 6 inches high in the centre. The level of the floor was,
doubtless, originally a foot or two lower. The present entrance doorway
to the nave is modern, and is in the centre of the west end. There are
the marks of an old doorway in the north wall, which show a plain arched
construction inside, and in this a window has been inserted at a late
period. Another square-headed window in the south wall completes the
lighting of the nave. There has also been a square-headed doorway in the
south wall. There are two piscinas in the nave--one adjoining the
chancel arch on the north, and having its basin in the depth of the
recess; the other (Fig. 695), in the south wall, had a projecting basin,
which is now sliced off. The most interesting and perfect feature of the
church is the locker or ambry in the north wall of the nave (Fig. 696).
The top is of a drop-arched form. The arch and the jambs and sill are
checked for a door in the usual manner. Above the door, and visible
whether the door was shut or open, is a pointed arch with a kind of rude
tracery enclosing a cross pattee cut out of grey granite. The locker is
13 inches wide.
[Illustration: FIG. 695. Deer Church. Piscina in South Wall.]
[Illustration: FIG. 696.--Deer Church. Ambry in Nave.]
[Illustration: FIG. 697.--Deer Church. Chancel Arch.]
Sockets in the wall at the springing of the chancel arch (see Fig. 697)
indicate the former existence of a rood screen. In the south side of the
chancel there remain the indications of a stair which led up to a narrow
door, now built up, the sill of which is at about the level of the
springing of the chancel arch (Fig. 698). Unless this led to some kind
of pulpit from which an audience in the nave could be addressed, it is
difficult to determine its use. The wall here on the nave side is so
completely covered with ivy that this point could not be made out.
[Illustration: FIG. 698.--Deer Church. Chancel Arch and High Door.]
The walls appear to have been in part rebuilt, especially the south wall
of the chancel near the east end, where there are visible, both outside
and inside, stones having fifteenth or sixteenth century rosettes carved
on them. In the east wall there is a finely carved heraldic stone (Fig.
699) with the arms effaced.
[Illustration: FIG. 699. Deer Church. Heraldic Stone.]
There is an arched recess for a monument (Fig. 700) on the exterior of
the south side of the nave at the west end, which can hardly be seen for
the dense growth of ivy. The sculptured stones and coat of arms are
evidently insertions.
[Illustration: FIG. 700.--Deer Church. Recess of Monument.]
Deer is the site of a very early monastery, founded by St. Columba, of
which the venerable _Book of Deer_ is the only remaining memorial. It
was written in the ninth century, and contains the Gospel of St. John,
with portions of the other gospels, and notes on the margins relating
to the monastery written in Gaelic at a later period. The existing
church has no connection with this ancient monastery further than that
it probably occupies the same position. It was, doubtless, erected about
the fifteenth century.